Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries.
the world was young till now when it is old—Freemasonry , the principles of which have never changed and never faltered , has become the handmaid of Christianity . Yes , gentlemen , this is your own verdict . Here , within our own beloved
land , so renowned for its attachment to the purest dispensations of Christianity—here , within this city tnd county , famed for the sacrifices luacTe and the blood shed on behalf of religious truth and freedom , you . have invoked the brethren of the
Craffc to lay the corner sfcone of a church of Christ . We have willingly responded to your call , both because of our principles themselves , and because we deeply feel that compliance with a request like this must assuredly be doubly blessed .
SERMON BY BRO . THE REV . DAVID WADDELL , OP STOW ( SCOTLAND ) , SUBSTITUTE GRAND CHAPLAIN AT THE LAYINS Off THE FOTJNDATION-Sl'ONE OP THE GREY FRIARS CHURCH , DUMFRIES . Psalm 127 , 1 st verse— "Except the Lord bnilcl
the house , they labour in vain that build it . " The preacher commenced by observing that the house to which the psalm referred was the first temple in Jerusalem . David , on account of the bloody Avars in which he had been engaged , was not permitted
to build that temple ; but Solomon , his sou , soon after his succession to the throne , commenced to build the temple . That temple was standing on a rock—on Mount Moriah—and was the most beautiful building upon the earth . And yet how soon its beauty was tarnished , and its glory decayed . Scare had the hear ] of Solomon been laid
m the tomb than his brother-in-law , the Ilmg * of Egypt , desolated the temple , and it was destroyed by the Assyrians . After seventy years it Avas rebuilt by Zerrubabbel and Josiah the High Priest , but in a style far short of its former magnificence .
Seventy years after the death of the Saviour the second temple was destroyed by the Romans ; and in fulfilment of the Saviour ' s prediction , not a stone was left standing * on another . That temple was specially distinguished by the rites and
ceremonies performed within it , and when it had served its purpose was destroyed . The Temple of Soloman was only a type of better things to come : soon as the great antitype had come , it was no longer needed , and passed , away . The temple
was only a type of the Living Temple—the Church in Heaven ; and to this the Psalmist refers . He would briefly consider the Living Temple : —I .
The foundation on which the Living Temple stands .. Every house must have a foundation . If it be weak—on sand or a marsh—the wall will fall . The first ancl most important point in a buildingis ,, therefore , a good foundation ; and this object
is secured when the foundation is on a rock . The temple of Solomon was built on a rock . The spiritual temple is built upon the Rock of Ages : and therefore has a sure foundation . " Behold , I lay in Sion for a foundation , a stone , a tried stone ,,
a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation . " Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone of the spiritual temple chosen by the great Master Builder . He alone is the foundation as well as the chief cornerstone : on Him must the believer build his hopes
for salvation . Every sinner , however unworthy , may come to Christ , depending on his merits alone for salvation . Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid—Christ Jesus ; and yet how many around us build their present hopes on
the general mercy of God , and expect to be saved without holiness ; while others depend on two forms—their own good works and the merits of Christ to supply their deficiencies . But not one sinner , from Adam down to the present moment , had been saved but by the merits of Christ alone—¦
and not one sinner who conieth unto Him will he cast out , for He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him , seeing * he ever liveth to make intercession . Christ is at once the foundation and chief corner-stone of the spiritual
temple ; and though convulsions may shake the world to its centre , the Church of the living God will continue unshaken , unmoved , and immoveable standing on the rock of ages—Jesus Christthe same yesterday , to-day , and for ever . II . The
materials of which the Living Temple is built . Every house is built of materials , and these stones may be procured fresh from the quarry , or dug- up from the ruins of old buildings . But whether procured from the quarry , or dug out of ruins , each
stone requires to be hewn before it can be built into a new building . Now , the materials for the spiritual temple are old materials—the ruins of the fall , and the ruins of fallen nature . That man was ruined by the fall , the proofs are numerous—one
hacl only to look into their own heart , into their own life , to be convinced that man ' s whole constitution is corrupted , and that man failed to acconi . " plish the great purposes for which he was made . Man is like the ruin of some ancient abbey , once the abode of rich churchmen , ifcs beauty the glory of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries.
the world was young till now when it is old—Freemasonry , the principles of which have never changed and never faltered , has become the handmaid of Christianity . Yes , gentlemen , this is your own verdict . Here , within our own beloved
land , so renowned for its attachment to the purest dispensations of Christianity—here , within this city tnd county , famed for the sacrifices luacTe and the blood shed on behalf of religious truth and freedom , you . have invoked the brethren of the
Craffc to lay the corner sfcone of a church of Christ . We have willingly responded to your call , both because of our principles themselves , and because we deeply feel that compliance with a request like this must assuredly be doubly blessed .
SERMON BY BRO . THE REV . DAVID WADDELL , OP STOW ( SCOTLAND ) , SUBSTITUTE GRAND CHAPLAIN AT THE LAYINS Off THE FOTJNDATION-Sl'ONE OP THE GREY FRIARS CHURCH , DUMFRIES . Psalm 127 , 1 st verse— "Except the Lord bnilcl
the house , they labour in vain that build it . " The preacher commenced by observing that the house to which the psalm referred was the first temple in Jerusalem . David , on account of the bloody Avars in which he had been engaged , was not permitted
to build that temple ; but Solomon , his sou , soon after his succession to the throne , commenced to build the temple . That temple was standing on a rock—on Mount Moriah—and was the most beautiful building upon the earth . And yet how soon its beauty was tarnished , and its glory decayed . Scare had the hear ] of Solomon been laid
m the tomb than his brother-in-law , the Ilmg * of Egypt , desolated the temple , and it was destroyed by the Assyrians . After seventy years it Avas rebuilt by Zerrubabbel and Josiah the High Priest , but in a style far short of its former magnificence .
Seventy years after the death of the Saviour the second temple was destroyed by the Romans ; and in fulfilment of the Saviour ' s prediction , not a stone was left standing * on another . That temple was specially distinguished by the rites and
ceremonies performed within it , and when it had served its purpose was destroyed . The Temple of Soloman was only a type of better things to come : soon as the great antitype had come , it was no longer needed , and passed , away . The temple
was only a type of the Living Temple—the Church in Heaven ; and to this the Psalmist refers . He would briefly consider the Living Temple : —I .
The foundation on which the Living Temple stands .. Every house must have a foundation . If it be weak—on sand or a marsh—the wall will fall . The first ancl most important point in a buildingis ,, therefore , a good foundation ; and this object
is secured when the foundation is on a rock . The temple of Solomon was built on a rock . The spiritual temple is built upon the Rock of Ages : and therefore has a sure foundation . " Behold , I lay in Sion for a foundation , a stone , a tried stone ,,
a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation . " Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone of the spiritual temple chosen by the great Master Builder . He alone is the foundation as well as the chief cornerstone : on Him must the believer build his hopes
for salvation . Every sinner , however unworthy , may come to Christ , depending on his merits alone for salvation . Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid—Christ Jesus ; and yet how many around us build their present hopes on
the general mercy of God , and expect to be saved without holiness ; while others depend on two forms—their own good works and the merits of Christ to supply their deficiencies . But not one sinner , from Adam down to the present moment , had been saved but by the merits of Christ alone—¦
and not one sinner who conieth unto Him will he cast out , for He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him , seeing * he ever liveth to make intercession . Christ is at once the foundation and chief corner-stone of the spiritual
temple ; and though convulsions may shake the world to its centre , the Church of the living God will continue unshaken , unmoved , and immoveable standing on the rock of ages—Jesus Christthe same yesterday , to-day , and for ever . II . The
materials of which the Living Temple is built . Every house is built of materials , and these stones may be procured fresh from the quarry , or dug- up from the ruins of old buildings . But whether procured from the quarry , or dug out of ruins , each
stone requires to be hewn before it can be built into a new building . Now , the materials for the spiritual temple are old materials—the ruins of the fall , and the ruins of fallen nature . That man was ruined by the fall , the proofs are numerous—one
hacl only to look into their own heart , into their own life , to be convinced that man ' s whole constitution is corrupted , and that man failed to acconi . " plish the great purposes for which he was made . Man is like the ruin of some ancient abbey , once the abode of rich churchmen , ifcs beauty the glory of